| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
https://www.cycleworld.com/1999-buell-cyclone-m2-r eview I had a love/hate relationship with my 2000 model. When I rode it, I absolutely LOVED it. I found the ergonomics PERFECT for any kind of riding I did. I even rode it down from Long Island to Daytona Beach one Spring for Bike Week, knocking out 200+ miles between gas stops. It was a great "every day" motorcycle and lots of fun on the twisties and occasional track days. The downside? It spent almost as much time in the shop as it did on the road. Between leaking head and base gaskets, broken motor-mounts, blistering/bubbling paint on the tank, and a choke knob that kept having to be replaced because it would loosen up and snap back before the engine was fully warm. My dream bike would've been that M2 Cyclone with the reliability of the later XB models. Oh... and locking, removable hard luggage (I understand it WAS possible to retro-fit the Thunderbolt's bags since they shared the same frame but I never got a chance to try it). | ||
| Crusty |
While it was possible to put S3-T bags on an M2, it required a bit of innovation and a welder to make things work. I put T bags on my 2000 M2. The frames rear sections were different and it required a bit of thought and ingenuity. I know what you mean when you talk about the love/hate relationship; I felt that way about my '98 S3-T. When it ran, I flat loved it, but it spent so much time in the shop I burned out on it. I still think the S3-T is one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made, but I don't want one because all I could see would be memories of breakdowns. If I could make it as reliable as an XB... No; the memories are too strong. Now; a Lightning Long (XB12Ss) with Hepco Becker Junior bags would be a fun bike. (My ex had over 50,000 happy miles on hers set up that way when we split up) | ||
| Ratbuell |
I never got the reliability issue. Maybe because I own my own tools, and if something broke or leaked, I fixed it correctly the first time. My 95 S2 is a prime example - yes, it had a ton of aftermarket parts on it (sideplates, Works shock, voltmeter, aux lights, upgraded HID headlight, Thunderstorm top end and cams), but those were all the result of "fix it right the first time" if something started to leak or fail. Why fix - upgrade! She was running like a CHAMP, right up until bambi jumped in front of her last Thursday night. Haven't seen it yet, but I'm presuming total loss. The deer went 210 feet after the impact; I traveled 305. Judging by the gouges in the pavement, the bike went over 600 feet. But...dead-nuts reliable bike till the day she died. WVBRs, trips to Daytona, trips to Homecomings...she did it all. The choke knob - you know there's a thumb-nut on the backside of the bracket that you can tighten, to keep tension on the cable so it doesn't shut off too early, right? | ||
| Jaimec |
Whether you do it yourself or the shop does it... if it requires FIXING (as opposed to regular service) then it ain't reliable. All of the issues I had (with the exception of the blistering/bubbling paint) only happened once but so damned many things kept going wrong it got frustrating. And I forgot to mention the muffler that looked like it was fifty years old at the end of the first year of ownership. Fortunately that was a relatively easy fix as Buell sold a nice SuperTrapp unit in stainless steel and aluminum. With the right number of discs, it wasn't much louder than stock and preserved the big, fat powerband I loved so much. | ||
| Jaimec |
Crusty, as much as I loved my XB12Ss, my legs kept cramping up on it. I should've swapped out the stock pegs for a set from the Ulysses. Better yet, I should've gotten the XB12XT instead of the 1125R I ended up with. Unfortunately, the XBs just didn't have the range that my M2 Cyclone had. I was easily able to make 200+ miles on a tank on the M2 Cyclone. Sadly, much less than that with my XB12Ss. | ||
| Ducxl |
Thread jack from an ORIGINAL '99 X1 Owner. I rode the '05 XBr to Medway today.Fun. To the thread,the M2 was a great bike only overshadowed by the NEW Fuel injected Hooligan Bike in the Original X1. I know personally an original '99 X1 from new in pristine condition.Well,dusty and worn flat tire but runs great.And proud of it.  | ||
| Jaimec |
I remember when those bikes first came out, a big complaint from a lot of the reviews was that Buell didn't QUITE have the FI dialed in right. The old school, carbureted M2 actually ran better. That (and the substantial price differential) is what put me on the M2 instead of an X1 or an S3. | ||
| Hootowl |
The X1’s wild bucking under 2500 rpm was part of its appeal.  It’s a ride on the wild side. I too have owned a 99 Reactor Yellow X1 since it was new. I will never sell it. ‘Course, I’ll probably never sell any of them. | ||
| Ducxl |
Vintage Buells' are still GREAT fun.  |
